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Blue Cross renewal shows 14% headline increase driven by a small group of high'cost claimants, presenter says
Summary
Blue Cross representatives told the Pratt County commission the county's renewal would rise roughly 14% if the plan is kept the same, largely because 16 members generated about $1.2 million of the $1.8 million in paid claims during the experience period, producing a projected loss ratio near 108%.
Patrick Bridal, group sales consultant for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas (S7), briefed the commission on the county's health-plan renewal and the underlying drivers of the proposed rate increase.
"If you keep everything the same, this plan will cost 14% more starting at your renewal date of 06/01," Bridal said while walking the board through utilization and experience data. He told commissioners that Blue Cross had paid approximately $1.8 million in claims during the measured experience period and that a concentrated set of 16 high'cost members accounted for roughly $1.2 million of that total. Bridal said the county's projected loss ratio was "just under a 108%," a level that contributed materially to the renewal math.
Blue Cross staff outlined alternative plan designs (higher deductible options and different deductible/out'of'pocket structures) that could reduce the headline increase; one higher'deductible option shown in the packet would lower the increase closer to 9% but shift more out'of'pocket liability to members. Commissioners discussed timing, the county's renewal date of June 1, and how vendor proposals such as the previously presented MERP might interact with the county's fiscal constraints if a state revenue cap limits local revenue options. No change to the county plan was approved at the meeting; the briefing was informational.
